Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 GMC Sierra 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 599 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars, averaged across 6 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V083000 Rear Wheel Lock Up from Transmission Control Valve Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V274000 Engine Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V797000 Rear Wheel Lock-Up from Transmission Valve Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V985000 Spare Tire Incompatible with Accessory Wheels NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V811000 Incorrect Bolts Used To Attach Seat Belts NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V792000 Front Center Seat Belts may not be Secured NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V684000 Tires may have been Overcured NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine 323 complaints
- Power Train 145 complaints
- Electrical System 76 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 49 complaints
- Unknown or Other 46 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 41 complaints
Of the 599 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 599 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$18,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 has a high number of owner complaints, particularly around engine and powertrain issues, and several recall campaigns. This suggests potential reliability concerns, though precise failure patterns are not well-established due to limited long-term data.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 50,000–80,000 miles | $1,500–$5,000 | common |
| Power Train | 40,000–70,000 miles | $2,000–$6,000 | common |
| Electrical System | Unknown | $300–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil changes every 7,500 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 30,000 miles
- Tire rotations every 7,500 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light activation
- Unusual engine noises
- Transmission slipping
- Unexpected power loss
- Electrical malfunctions
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.